Christmas isn’t always all about kids. Sometimes, it can be very adult-oriented and caters more to spoiling your inner child than to making toddlers sit on a stranger’s lap while asking for presents in a crowded shopping mall. To wit: Miracle by Blue Hound, a holiday-themed pop-up cocktail concept. Miracle Pop-Ups are hosted by bars around the U.S., but the Blue Hound location is the only one in Metro Phoenix. It’s worth the journey from anywhere in the Valley, though with a cocktail menu that’s this booze-forward, you’ll want to take an Uber or a Lyft (and then pretend you’re in Santa’s sleigh).

There are 12 cocktails on the menu, each infused with wintry flavors like cranberry, pumpkin, brown butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and gingerbread syrup. Every single tipple tastes like Christmas. Our three favorites are detailed below; however, every single drink on this menu is eminently quaffable and worth its toll on your liver.

Let’s start with the Jingle Balls Nog ($15). This frothy, creamy concoction consists of cognac, Pedro Jimenez Sherry, brown butter, cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, almond milk, cream, sugar, egg and nutmeg. It’s served warm, in custom 8 oz. mugs, and goes down dangerously smooth. We recommend resisting the urge to chug this one and sipping it instead. Otherwise, visions of sugar plums may be dancing in your head while you’re still awake.

Too shy to sing loudly along to “Last Christmas” in a public place? Or maybe you’re holding back from getting in on the argument about whether or not the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is about an annoyingly whiny guy drugging a girl’s drink and pleading with her to stay with him? The Christmas Carol Barrel ($18) will loosen up your tongue with a truth elixir of aged rum, Aquavit, amaro, pumpkin pie, lemon and angostura bitters.

If you love cranberries, the Christmapolitan ($15) might ruin you on the fruit forever – in a good way. One sip of this mix of vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary and lime with an absinthe mist, and you’ll forever turn up your nose at canned cranberries.

There’s so much more to love about the Miracle menu – including holiday food items like the “Gobble, Gobble!” (a crispy turkey leg served in a skillet with sweet potato puree and tart cherries) and the “Hammy Sammy” — the best ham sandwich I’ve ever had in my life, stacked with Serrano and Black Forest hams and oozing three cheeses (brie, havarti and Tillamook cheddar) on Noble bread with a tingly kick from poblano relish. The décor throughout Blue Hound is also festive to the nth degree, with hundreds of elves hanging on shelves like creepy contortionists, a mini train circling overhead, and Christmas lights sparkling everywhere. Even the drinks are served in signature seasonal drinkware (available for purchase).

We don’t need snow to enjoy Christmas cocktails. We just need a Miracle.

Miracle by Blue Hound runs through December 30 at Hotel Palomar Phoenix at CityScape, 2 E. Jefferson Street in Phoenix. For more information, visit bluehoundkitchen.com and miraclepopup.com.

Event Details

Phoenix Fan Fusion is a family-friendly event where they invite enthusiasts of every fandom, geeks of all kinds, creators, artists, entertainers, cosplayers, fans, and friends to join their family and

Event Details

Phoenix Fan Fusion is a family-friendly event where they invite enthusiasts of every fandom, geeks of all kinds, creators, artists, entertainers, cosplayers, fans, and friends to join their family and experience what they embrace as their culture, our world, and our passions. There’s a bit of geek in us all. Come discover your inner geek at Phoenix Fan Fusion.

What to do at phoenix fan fusion

Make friends: meet like-minded people and make friends just like you. If you have a burning passion hotter than the intensity of 1000 suns, join thousands of fans just like you, share your passion, and explore new fandoms.

Dress up: from novice to expert to professional, costumes are a big part of Phoenix Fan Fusion. You should expect to see lots of popular characters from comic books, movies, and tv shows. So, dust off that old costume or put something new together and strut your stuff! If you’re not the cosplayer type, that’s okay too. Take in the sites, do a little “cosplay watching”, or ask one of our many costumed attendees for a quick picture to commemorate the day.

Celebrities: meet your favorite comic book authors and writers, movie and tv stars, pop culture icons, and fandom celebrities. Guest panels give you an opportunity to hear guests talk about past, current, and upcoming projects, and sometimes answer questions from the audience. Purchase a professional photo with you and a guest or buy an autographed photo.

Panels and events: join all the geek-themed fun during the countless hours of programming. From games, demonstrations, debates, meet-ups, crafts, costuming, workshops, contests, and signature events, there’s plenty to do during the weekend. Most panels are family-friendly and many are designed for kids and families.

Gaming: whether it’s playing arcade games, joining the multiple e-gaming tournaments, or jumping into a table top game, get your game on at Phoenix Fan Fusion. Spend some time in a virtual world, visit the gaming showcase to see new and upcoming games, or follow along with the live stream from inside the gaming hall. It’s a gamer’s paradise!

Phoenix Fan Fusion is 4 days of fun for geeks of all ages. Memorial day weekend, 2019 Phoenix Fan Fusion is the place to be. Discover your inner geek!

Time

23 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m. - 26 (Sunday) 5:00 p.m.

Location

Phoenix Convention Center

1000 N. Third Street, Phoenix.

About US

Welcome to the number one resource for things to do in the Phoenix Metro area. Whether you're one of the Valley's 4 million residents or 16 million annual visitors, we want to help you fully experience the diverse culture, entertaining activities and astonishing 300 days of sunshine this Sonoran desert oasis offers. Be sure to bookmark this site so you can easily keep up with the latest event and activity information.